Ive hear alot about this guy. Out of all the stories …the one that sticks out is him storming the beaches in Norway during Operation Archery. From wiki “As the ramps fell on the first landing craft, Churchill leapt forward playing the “March of the Cameron Men” on his pipes.” Ive also heard this on the History channel as well. Plus sword in hand! I find it a bit hard to believe unless he was in the rear with the gear. As soon as the Brits landed they meet resistance. Not heavy according to what ive heard but enough to make you duck. There are enough reports to make me believe it yet it still seems a bit to crazy.
Please feel free to post other insane ppl and their deeds. We can always move this or keep it on him.
Pretty much the entire wartime career of Paddy Mayne. But for his habit of getting into fights with everyone he met (he was under arrest for knocking out his commanding officer when recruited into the SAS) he would probably have managed the rare feat of a VC and Bar. As it was he finished the war with a DSO and three Bars.
Two that always impressed me were Orde Wingate; the brains behind the Chindit operations in Burma & his subordinate, “Mad” Mike Calvert, who went on to command the SAS brigade & Malayan Scouts.
Both were “unconventional” to say the least.
Two other interesting brits are Simon Fraser (Lord Lovat), and Bill Millin.
Lord Lovat led the first special service brigade during d-day on Sword Beach. He landed on the beach wearing a white jumper carrying an old Winchester rifle.
Bill Millin accompanied Lord Lovat and upon lovats orders, he played the bagpipes while they advanced up the beach. Apparently, the only reason why Millin wasnt shot, was because the Germans thought hed gone mad.
Churchill was an Olympic standard archer. He actually took a traditional, English Longbow with him on one operation, together with some hunting arrows. He shot at least one German with it.
During the BEF’s fighting retreat, Churchill remained aggressive, unwilling to give up a yard of ground while extracting the maximum cost from the enemy. He was especially fond of raids and counterattacks, leading small groups of picked soldiers against the advancing Germans. He presented a strange, almost medieval figure at the head of his men, carrying not only his war bow and arrows, but his sword as well.
As befitted his love of things Scottish, Churchill carried the basket-hilted claymore (technically a claybeg, the true claymore being an enormous two-handed sword). Later on, asked by a general who awarded him a decoration why he carried a sword in action, Churchill is said to have answered: “In my opinion, sir, any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed.”
During Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam when badly outnumbered and badly outgunned Australians encountered regular NVA forces and were pinned down under withering fire from several sides.
RSM or CSM (can’t recall exactly who) moved around exposing himself to fire and encouraging troops to perform their duties.
One bloke recalls RSM / CSM lookiing down at him while he (the bloke) was hugging the ground for dear life and not firing. RSM / CSM says something like
“The Australian taxpayer is paying you to kill these people, lad. Now start earning your money.”
